Reader Interactions

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Another underrated artist of Fateyev, he deserves the rank of principal. If it hadn’t been for Lopatkina, we would have not seen him much. It’s great to see him dance with Zakharova, Ferri,… last July.

Interesting interview in that his responses were so clipped rather than the more expansive answers your questions usually elicit. I have done interviews such as that before where it seemed the subject couldn’t wait to get it over with. With full-blown personality interviews, you can usually avoid showing that caustic attitude to the readers. In a questionaire format, readers get the real personality, “warts and all.” Personality aside, his is a tremendous talent.

I am really sorry to interfere, but this specific style of”clipped responses” was exactly what Graham requested for this questionnaire. I know that for sure, from this particular dancer and also by reading previous Gramilano’s questionnaires. That’s why I am not sure “the more expansive answers your questions usually elicit” is a right statement, sorry. Anyway, thanks for your impressions and interesting thoughts and opinions, although some of them didn’t seem quite right to me.

Peter, the answers are written so that people can mull over their responses (not easy to answer, what is your favourite book? if you read a lot!) and my ‘instructions are: make your answers long or short, serious/ironic/funny whatever. This way the personality of the person comes through… their timidness, expansiveness, etc So yes, some have given long answers, but it’s not required 🙂

Gramilano – ballet, opera, photography Thanks Graham. It was just that these responses seemed so curt, almost rude. That was why I was concerned and so, commented, Usually (see James Whiteside interview) the responses reveal more character giving insight into the person as well as their relation to their art and the world in general. I often wish, when reading some of these, that you could do them as an in-person feature interview. Have you maybe considered that mode in some cases where it would be more appropriate? Going through the library of your interviews is such a wonderful experience. Thank you for doing these over the years. They create a permanent catalogue of so many of today’s artists. Regards — Peter Crossley, Toronto.

Graham Spicer

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name 'Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like.

I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times. I write the 'Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times.